Rome. Baths of Diocletian. End of 3rd c. CE.

Other major project besides Curia is new baths. Very much become a tradition, non had been added since Carracalla. Diocletian adds another monumental bath complex. To provide enough bathing for everyone in various neighborhoods.

Similar to baths of Caraclla – central ceiling, vaulted caldarium, rectangular, courtyards on eaither side, surrounded by formal garden and theater like structure. Libraries, niches, and domed areas.

Medieval construction all around, and renaissance, respects boundary, during 18 hundreds whole city is organized but follows same area. 

Rome. Baths of Diocletian. End of 3rd c. CE.

Right in the middle of Rome, exedra. Still building, medieval construction.

Lines drawn in the city from buildings that outlive the buildings. (like broadway). 

Piazza exedra (really piazza della republica).

Cross shaped roofs are three crossed vaults.

Exedra – cinrcular or polygonal inset in wall.

Rome. Baths of Diocletian. End of 3rd c. CE.

Frigidarium, cross vaults. Very quickly becomes standard way to cover ceilings. Two barel vaults intersecting. Callled sails, joined together. Can have windows on all sides rather than on just one side with normal barrel vaults. 

Rome. Decennalia base. Early 4th c. CE.

Use of drill even more. Sacrifice of sheep, pig, and bull. Traditional roman religion, but in late third century other monotheistic religions are increasing. 

Rome. Basilica of Maxentius (Constantine). Early 4th c. CE.

Last few decades o tetriarchy.

Maxentius feels like he is going to bring back the greatnest of Rome, believes he can be the sole emperor.

He is an Emperor that wants to rebuild Rome, not a lot of resources or time. Involved in a bunch of projects.

Basilica of Maxentius (later called Basilica of Constantine) in the center of Old Rome, away from imperial Forum, trying to suggest Palatine days, sacra via is revived. Maxentius celebrated a triumph. Big effort to generate excitement in a new roman empire centered on Rome. Wants to be new Romulus, renames his son Romulus. Idea that new Dynasty, a dream, cannot happen.

Meanwhile another tetrarch had been groing in power, Constatine, flirting with idea of taking over everything, capitalizing on support of Christians. 300 years since Peter funded Christian community in Rome. Now powerful people are Christians. Constantine allies himself with christinas (even if he wasn’t a Christian in Itialy), Christians persected (not on a regular basis), but had moments of persecution. Like other religious persecutions.

Had act of sacrificing to Imperial Rome, for some people meaningless act. Pour wine on altar, say a few phrases to the spirit of the empire/emperor and then leave. This always worked well, polytheistics have no problem with this. Important to the Romans. Christians will not do this, I’m not supposed to worship other gods, mindblowing to Romans, this is just to show up, pour wine, and then be a Christinan. Romans think they want to undermine empire, Christians just say they cant do this, things often percipicate to level that says do this or die (martyrs). On gong problem that gets bigger and bigger. Romans very tolerant of other religions, against self mutilation nd human sacrifice though. Maethras have no problem with pouring wine on altar and then do everything. Christians and Jews have a problem with this, want this to end. Looking for an emperor that will be on his side, Constantine. Not really believes in any of this just wants to take power. Women in his family have converted. He emerges in early 4th century as political leader for promise of religious tolerance. People are rallying to his side.

Massive clash between Maxentius and Constantine, Constantine wins, claims to see cross telling him he will win, not even baptized. Maxentius defeated. Constantine wants to redraw empire, restores tetrarchy with Christian key. Says that all religions are tolerated. Empire will go back on that and make all religions illegal but Christianty. Inic – early 4th century.

Believes that the new center should be in the east, chosen Byzentium as his capital, just one of the four. Becomes city he calls Constantinople, now called Istanbul. Invests a lot of money becomes political center. Inolved in construction of churches. Chrstianity not state religion yet, but he is constructing churches, most resources in east, not forgetting Rome. No longer imperial capital, Rome is important for Christians,were the popes are, st peter and stpaul, first Christina population, makes investment in Rome.

Maxentius in Rome trying to broadcast that Roman empire is back, but have Constantinople trying to gather up Christians. Maxentius has a new basilica in forum, have paletine slope, in area of Roman forum, sacred way of triumphal procession, don’t even know about traditions anymore. Only a third preserved, monumental. Last basilica in the forum of Trajan. Emphasis later had been on bath houses, trying to bring back civic life of basilica. Anocronistic – architects don’t even know how to make basilica in line with old basilicas. Take frigidarium structure for basilica

Rome. Basilica of Maxentius (Constantine). Early 4th c. CE.

Vaulting system, see incredible stuff going up from inside. No real political life to speak of, for trials and auctions, but not political speeches. Would not have little circle indent in Basilica, have statue of emperor.

Similar of a church, this is a church design. Maxentius last emperor Pagan emperor comes up with design that becomes church design. Does not have horizontal axis before, created by Constantine. Now has two apse, short and long side. Apse – semicircular indentations, has to be at far end of building, typically only one. More than one and match each other – exedrae.

Barrel vaults

Rome. Basilica of Maxentius (Constantine). Early 4th c. CE.

Massive brickwork, 

Rome. So-called “Temple of Romulus”. Early 4th c. CE.

Maxentius relentless, son is named Romulus, refounded empire, Romulus dies before clash with Constantine, politically disappointing, a cult develops to his dead son so the dietified Romulus can convey the same message. Controversial, shirne located on sacred way, close to Basilica, might have already existed, but gets redone, new vault, becomes monsatry by monks, door gets looked after, concave façade (typical at this time) 

Rome (surroundings). Villa of Maxentius. Early 4th c. CE.

At work on the Via Appia creating a villa, emperor already had a bunch of villas, he takes over a new one, for display and to control resources, taes over villa from 2nd century CE, redesigns and redecorates, adds gigantic circus (stadium) and a shrine (mosoleum) to his son Romulus. Gigantic, on most important road in Rome, would see this, big racetrack and shrine. Importance of racing – growing, peaked in second century CE, still a crucial part of imperial pageantry, emperor shows up in imperial box and is a spectator, people pleased to see him. Constantine also has a racetrack in Constantinople. Chariot racing and imperial display still linked, even for Christian emperor.

Flat side and curving side, not a lot of steps, not for giant crowds, for inner circle of emperor. Horse racing to celebrate the dead, horse racing at funerals. Maxentius keen on pagan constums, maybe meant the races to be in honor of his dead son.

Rome (surroundings). Villa of Maxentius. Early 4th c. CE.

View of shrine, round drum and a later addition (farm house), presict wall around shrine, towers mark the sides of the finish line of the stadium. 

Rome. Basilica of Maxentius (Constantine). Early 4th c. CE.

Constantine defeats him, establishes new era of Christian rule. Christianity legal, becomes Christian on his death bed, family are Christians, all later emperors (exceptions) will be Christian.

Center of gravity is in the east. Funds Constantinople on Bizantine, tip of Greek and Turkey, where it’s all about. Still has respect for rome – where the popes are. 

Rome. Basilica of Maxentius (Constantine). Early 4th c. CE.

Lateral aisles with barrel vaults

Rome. Head of Constantine. Early 4th c. CE.

Places collosaul statue in the apse. Late roman portrait, looking up, stare, little white underneath eyes, military cut and strong jaw (strong leader).

Stays a basilica, even if it looks like a church. Would not have chosen to build one but keeps it since its there. Builds churches and another bath complex. 

Rome. Arch of Constantine. Early 4th c. CE.

Creates last triumphal arch of rome. Sits next to colloseum, preserved, very similar to Sentinius Severus, significant difference in decoration. Scultpure on arch does not date to time of Constantine, large panels cut 200 years later, inscription says Constantine’s.

Rome. Arch of Constantine. Early 4th c. CE.

Have parts of previous emperors, green parts are done under Constantine. Faces changed to look like him.

Arch celebrates victory over other Romans, everyone knew this, it is acceptable now

Rome. Arch of Constantine. Early 4th c. CE.

Art, on horse, hunting scene, movement

Rome. Arch of Constantine. Early 4th c. CE.

Scultpure of the period, similar guys, drill, no attempt at portraiture, sits stiffly, short and squat, style changed greatly

Patchwork of different styles, debate as to why they did this. Why? In a hurry, recycled what was around. Constantine trying to honor great past. Started by Mexentius and he recycled (made sense for him) and Constantine takes it. Dates to the 2nd century and Constantine adds. Puzzling element of an arch that dates to 4th century with lots of 2nd century art. Was the art stripped or was it in storage not used? Lots of questions. 

Rome. Location of main catacombs.

Constantine makes Christianity (and all religions) legal, eliminates possibility of persecution, everyone benefits but aimed at Christians.

Christianity is legal – what to do with churches? Up until this point (especially in the west) had no major churches – perceived to be like magnets for persecution. Wanted to keep low profile – at best tolerated. So for many centuries, 300 years, mass was in private houses, shrines in rich people houses, other small shrines in cemetaries outside of city, trying to pass them off as funerary ritual. Used for funerals and day to day basis. Christians develop special veneration for martyrs. All persecuted and died are preserved as Martyrs as well, honored, saint hood is developed, can now worship these saints. Martyrs in Rome and else where, buried outside city (norm to be buried outside the walls – origins of cities). Churches built outside walls, people visit these cemetaries, want to bury yourself near them for chance of paradise. Belief – if youre coffin is next to martyr, some of saint hood will rub off on you, like saint Sebastian (goes in front of arrows), people put their coffins on top, people go visit for saint and family. Become catacombs. Some sanctified by special people in them. The big shape is of Saint Peters, ouside walls, the holiest place of them all, outranks everyone, veneration, big necropolis develops, shrines and churches. 

Rome (surroundings). St. Sebastian catacombs. 2nd-3rd c. CE.

Miles and miles of tunnels fro catacombs, many layers. 

Rome. Catacomb interior.

Very dark and narrow, slot burials all over, go for miles. Christinas are first group to insist burial for everyone, before needed relatives with money, any tomb, others’ bodies just throw out.

Insist that all must be buried, even slaves, community would take on costs, have giant burials, believed in animation (not cremation, God’s work harder if bones are everywhere), cremation – ashes take up little space.

Sometimes catacombs under churches. 

Emphasis on egalitarianism, should all be buried in same way. Some still build little chapels with arches.

Have little church with plaster and fresco, or on top of catacomb. Staring in late first century, become bigger and bigger. 

Rome (Vatican). Basilica of St. Peter. Early 4th c. CE.

First church of Constatine, placed by Saint Peters grave. As a way to court favor of Christian supporters, makes big important church, where and how to build them. Original church of saint peters, over his tomb, altar of church directly above his tomb, holiness will migrate up.

Central nave and two later, Basilica style of republican times. Not vaulted, not big arches, like Basilica you’d see in forum, provincial cities where it was still functioning. Only modification are side chapels. Forming bar known as transept. To advocate cross, concept of Latin cross, cross with longer vertical bar and shorter horizontal bar. The greek cross was more a square, two forms of church desing. Bar, apse at end, long collonated hall. Greek church has central design like flower shape.

Developing idea that some churches are more important. Elected  leader – bishop, turns into ritual clergy position. Becomes cathedral – cathedra is word for chair. Cathedral where bishop is, sits in chair. Hierarchies with churches. Awlays one cathedral (not Rome) where bishop is and then other churches with regular priests.

Timber framed buildings.

Round circles – additional chapels, added to church, used for baptisms (often adult, full sunking, belief is only can be baptized when you are mature enough), separation between baptized and not yet baptized. Sometimes have two churches, in middle round space for baptisims (transition)

Rome (Vatican). Basilica of St. Peter. Early 4th c. CE.

Timber framed, collonated aisles, courtyward in front of church (for gathering before going into church for mass), lower roof on sides, higher roof in center. 

Rome. Basilica of St. John Lateran. Early 4th c. CE.

Church of saint peters emerges, rebuilt. Constantine, church of St John, 16 hundreds plan, second most important church in Rome, side chapels, grown into main body, main nave, apse, hallway at the back of the apse, for ritual behind the scenes

Rome. Mausoleum of Constantina. Mid-4th c. CE.

Constantine building massive churches. Emphasis on burial of important people, except that all should be equal. Constantina is the daughter of Constaintine, gets beautiful moseleum, preserved, façade giving acces to round building. Used as a church after, when she becomes a saint, cannot happen before you die. Not sure when she became a saint, within decades of death. People in frescos, saints identified by a nimbus, sometimes have square nimbus (still alive, likely to become saint, everyone agrees he’ll become a saint)

Rome. Mausoleum of Constantina. Mid-4th c. CE. Within the context of the St. Agnes basilica.

Also a church attached to it.

Rome. Mausoleum of Constantina. Mid-4th c. CE.

Altar, under altar is reserved for saints, only for saints to have burial under altar. Greek cross type building, round body, double columns separating the outer circle, goes all the way around, mosaics in ceiling.

Rome. Mausoleum of Constantina. Mid-4th c. CE.

Half donut vault,connecting inner and outer circle, geometric patterns and figural motifs. 

Milan. Church of the Holy Apostles. Late 4th c. CE.

Left up to Pope, emperor left to other places, Pope remains as the main figure in rome, originally religious lesaderbut then political significance.

Milan in north, growing, center of flourinshing Christian community, bishop with incredible role redefying, Ambrose bishop. Similar to church that existed in Constantinople. Single nave, wider transept, niches, apse at top, and niches (kind of like exedra). 

Milan. Church of St. Lawrence. Late 4th c. CE.

Church of St. Lawrence, Greek cross based church, not just masoleum, larger church. Stuff around it is additional chapels built later, main body not round, four apses joined together, without going in like a clover but more like a slight curve, gives sense of cross. 

Milan. Church of St. Lawrence. Late 4th c. CE.

Architecture is much later, polygonal dome on top, porch underneath. 

Ravenna. Mausoleum of GallaPlacidia. Mid-5th c. CE.

In Milan, late 4th century. What happens soon after, western roman empire collapses, teetering and losing pieces, has to abandon Britain, france is taken over, empire is weaker and weaker, war lords taken over army, controlling political game, one does not appoint another, now barbaric leaders (central Europe), have gone through experience of being Army officers, one proclaims himself king of Italy, people agree that that’s the end. Breaks down, not just change in title, doesn’t even own all of Italy. Pieces fall apart, barbaric kingdoms form and break apart. Eastern roman empire survives, thrives, separation in the past. Eastern and western had common history, now completely fall apart. Still have this. Incompatiple.

Ravena on Adriatic coast, eastern coast towards north, near Venice, in fifth and sixth century becomes imperial city controlled by Bizantines, build beautiful buildings there. Beautiful mosoleum, of a woman named GallaPlacidia. Has shape of cross, Greek style,does not becoe church because Galla is not a saint. 

Ravenna. Mausoleum of GallaPlacidia. Mid-5th c. CE.

Simple cross shape. 

Ravenna. Mausoleum of GallaPlacidia. Mid-5th c. CE.

Emphasis on mosaics. Sarcophagus, beautiful mosaics on vault.

Ravenna. Mausoleum of GallaPlacidia. Mid-5th c. CE.

Marvelous colors. Still the place where people are best at making mosaics, goes on for 15 hundred years, need to maintain them.  Emphasis on colors, flat geometic patterns.

Ravenna. St. Apollinare. Early 6th c. CE.

Basilica design, collonades, lateral aisles, apse, beautifully preserved. 

Ravenna. St. Apollinare. Early 6th c. CE.

Belltower added latyer, body of church is orginal one. 

Ravenna. St. Apollinare. Early 6th c. CE.

Original interior, early Christian basilica. Simple collonates, apse, mosaic decoration, row of saints, mosaic, on both sides. Arches – typical to see arches connecting columns. (seen first in palace of Diocletian) becomes norm for medieval architecture. 

Ravenna. St. Apollinare. Early 6th c. CE.

Mosaic in the apse, kind of portrayal of jesus, golden backgrounds common, become the norm, and stay the norm in byzantine art. 

Ravenna. Mausoleum of Theoderic. Early 6th c. CE.